Co van Kessel: Bangkok Old Town and Thonburi 4-Hour Bicycle Tour with Meal
Highlights
- Ferry crossing on the Chao Phraya River
- Thonburi stilt houses and raised pathways over water
- Thai meal at a local family restaurant
- About 12 km through markets, temples and alleyways
Description
This afternoon ride links the two sides of the Chao Phraya River. You start in Rattanakosin, Bangkok's historical heart, then cross by ferry to Thonburi, where stilt houses stand as they have for generations and raised concrete pathways over the water replace roads. For more background and practical advice, see our Bangkok Old Town guide.
Pricing
Adult
Age 12-99
THB 1,850per person
Child
Age 3-11
THB 1,388per person
Infant
Age 0-2
Free
per person
Highlighted reviews from travelers
See all reviews →- 14:00
Meet in the old town near Phra Chan pier
Meet at the start point on Phra Chan Alley, a 5 minute walk from Sanam Luang between the Grand Palace and Khao San Road. The tour departs at 14:00.
Ride the narrow streets and alleyways of Bangkok's historical old town, stopping at family-run shops for cold drinks and browsing a small local market. About 95% of the roughly 12 km route uses back roads, alleys and footpaths rather than main roads.
Take the ferry across the Chao Phraya River and cycle onto the elevated pathways that replace roads in Thonburi’s riverside communities, past stilt houses that have stood for generations in neighbourhoods that are slowly disappearing, with a stop at a local temple.
Around the halfway point, sit down for a local-style Thai meal at a family-run restaurant, included in the tour, with vegetarian and dietary options available if you tell your guide.
Cross back over the river and pedal the old-town backstreets to the Phra Chan start point, finishing about four hours after departure.
Included
- Experienced local guide
- Custom city bike
- Helmet (optional, free)
- Ferry river crossing
- Local-style light meal
- Drinks en route
- Accident insurance
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (the tour starts and ends at Phra Chan Alley)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Tips for the guide (optional)
- Closed shoes or sports sandals (flip-flops are discouraged)
- Clothing that covers shoulders (a sarong helps at temples)
- Sunglasses, hat and sunblock
- Camera or smartphone
- Copy of your passport (for insurance)
- Raincoat (optional; one is provided if needed)
- Inexperienced cyclists: the route uses narrow alleyways and elevated pathways over the water, so confident bike handling is required
- Young children (children under 12 who cycle confidently can join at the child price)
This tour starts at a fixed meeting point. Please make your own way there.
Phra Chan Alley
Phra Chan Alley runs beside Thammasat University in the old town, a few minutes on foot from the Grand Palace. The Chao Phraya Express boat stops at Tha Chang and Tha Phra Chan right by it, and any taxi will know Thammasat University Tha Phra Chan. Please arrive 15 to 30 minutes before the 14:00 departure, so by around 13:30-13:45.
This is the afternoon ride, one departure a day at 14:00 from Phra Chan Alley near the Grand Palace. Check-in opens 15 to 30 minutes early for bike fitting, and you are back around 18:00 after roughly 12 km.
It is also the most adventurous route in the Co van Kessel programme: narrow alleyways, small bridges and elevated concrete pathways over the water on the Thonburi side, ridden single file behind the guide. Confident bike handling is a real requirement here, which is why the ride is not recommended for young children or beginners.
The reward for the extra nerve is the Bangkok the other routes only brush: stilt-house communities on the water, a local market, a riverside temple, and a sit-down Thai meal at a family restaurant roughly halfway through. Drinks along the way are included.
FAQs
Please arrive 15 to 30 minutes before departure so there is time to check in and get fitted to your bike.
Tours run rain or shine. In light rain ponchos are handed out; in a heavy downpour the guide finds shelter and waits it out, usually no more than about 30 minutes.
This route uses narrow alleyways and elevated pathways over the water, so confident cycling is required. It is not recommended for young children or inexperienced cyclists. Children under 12 who cycle confidently join at the child price.
Light, comfortable clothing with shoulders covered works best, especially at temple stops. Closed shoes or sports sandals are safer than flip-flops.
Yes. Cancelling or moving your booking to another date is free up to 24 hours before the tour starts, and anything you have paid is refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded. If we have to cancel, for example for weather or safety, you can move to another date or take a full refund.
Group departures run with a small minimum number of guests. If your departure cannot go ahead, we will contact you to move you to another time or refund you.
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Reviews
Based on 47 reviews
- Clara-Soledad MontalvoAugust 9, 20265.0
Nearly the whole route stayed away from main-road traffic. We paused at a market stall while fruit sellers packed away the afternoon stock. The ride linked old Rattanakosin and everyday Thonburi beautifully.
- Élise-Cécile LefèvreJuly 28, 20265.0
The afternoon departure gave the riverside communities a warm light. Children waved from a doorway beside the path. Our small group moved single file without feeling rushed.
- Maria-Leonor GonçalvesJuly 21, 20265.0
Bike fitting at Phra Chan was careful and efficient. A cold herbal drink was the surprise favourite of the group. Vegetarian preferences were checked before the meal. really well orgnaised.
- Lina-Friede SeifertJuly 16, 20265.0
Vegetarian preferences were checked before the meal. The ferry breeze arrived just when the heat began to build.
- Sofia-Bianca RinaldiJuly 15, 20265.0
Our guide handled the narrow route with calm, clear signals. Temple bells carried across the water during our rest. Bike fitting at Phra Chan was careful and efficient.